A police case has been registered against an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and her husband for allegedly defrauding a Lucknow-based doctor of over ₹64 lakh under the guise of investment. The incident has raised serious concerns about trust and integrity among individuals in esteemed positions.
The complaint was filed by Dr. Mridula Agarwal, who claims that Niharika Singh, the IFS officer currently stationed in Indonesia, along with her husband, Ajit Gupta, lured her into investing in their company, Ani Bullion Traders. According to the FIR, which was lodged at the Gomti Nagar police station following a court order, the fraudulent activities took place between February 2 and 29, 2020.
Dr. Agarwal, a 54-year-old resident of Gomti Nagar, first met the couple in 2016 when they brought their daughter to her clinic for treatment. She alleged that they persuaded her to invest in their company, promising returns that would outperform other investment opportunities. Trusting their assurances, she invested a total of ₹51 lakh through multiple cheques in August 2016. The investment was documented with a signed agreement on stamped paper, and post-dated cheques were provided as proof.
Initially, Dr. Agarwal received her returns without interruption until August 2018. However, she claims that starting February 2019, she was informed that her investments had been transferred to another company, Eye Vision India Credit Cooperative Society, assuring her that her money was secure. Payments continued until January 2020, but then ceased completely.
When she sought clarification, Dr. Agarwal was reportedly informed by company employees that Ajit Gupta and others were in police custody, with assurances that her due amount would be paid upon their release. Frustrated by the lack of results and facing significant mental distress and financial losses, Dr. Agarwal decided to take legal action.
The FIR has been filed under IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating). Both Niharika Singh and Ajit Gupta, along with their associated companies, Ani Bullion Traders and Eye Vision India Credit Cooperative Society Limited, have been named in the complaint.
The allegations raise important questions regarding the vulnerability of individuals, even professionals in prestigious positions, to fraudulent schemes. The investigation is ongoing as police work to gather more evidence and locate the accused.
Sources By Agencies